Valve construction



June 14, 1949. s. A. ocHs I VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 9, 1945ZSheets-Sheet 1 June 14, 1949.

S. A. OCHS VALVE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1945 IINVENTOR. 55/17: /9.' @155 m 5 M u r 4 Patented June 14, 1949 VALVE CONSTBUCTION Sidney A. Ochs, Detroit, Mich, assignor to ChryslerCorporation, Highland Park, Mich, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationFebruary 9, 1945, Serial No. 577,015

17 Claims.

This application relates to a valve construction. More specifically itrelates to a valved piston intended for use in a shock absorber.

In the case of some valve constructions such as the valves in shockabsorber pistons there are employed two valves and two rows of passagesfor flow in two directions at the same or widely different pressures.Many problems have been encountered in such arrangements, because theemployment of two sets of passages in the small space afforded in such abody as a shock absorber piston. I propose to improve the valves closingthe passages and thereby to accomplish a simplification of the passages.

An object of the present invention is to provide improvements in a valveconstruction that is capable of passing fluid in different directionsthrough different sets of passages. These improvements may be applied topistons of shock absorbers.

Another object is the provision of improvements in valve memberscooperating with a valve body for controlling the flow of fluid throughpassages formed in the Valve body.

A further object lies in improving the configuration of valve membersfor making possible the flow of pressure fluid in different directionsthrough a single ring of passages extending through the valve body.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shock absorber employing anovel valve construction of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but of a modified form;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fi 4;

Fig. 6 isa sectional view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 but of a secondmodified form; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l--l of Fig. 6.

Reference character designates a shock absorber of the present inventionwhich includes an upper head I I composed of a ring l2 and a disk I 3and-a lower head l4 composed of a ring l5 and a cup I 6. The disk I 3 isjoined to the a ring l2 by soldering or welding and has an openingreceiving the reduced end of a piston rod ll in a welded or solderedconnection. A tubular sleeve l8 issecured to the disk l3 by soldering orWelding. A cup Hi is secured to the ring l5 by soldering or welding, andsoldering or welding secures the lower end of a tubular sleeve I 9 tothe cup IS. The upper end of the sleeve l9 receives a bushing 20 in athreaded connection. The piston rod I! has a sliding fit in the bushing20 and is sealed by means of a seal 2| mounted in the bushing 20. Theupper end of a sleeve 22 is secured by soldering or welding to thebushing 20, and the lower end is similarly secured to the compressionvalve structure 23. A bafiie 23A is positioned in the space between thetubular sleeves l9 and 22.

The piston rod I? has at one end a reduced portion 24 having threadedend 25. Mounted upon the reduced portion 24 is a tubular section 26having at one end a flange 21. A nut 28 having a flange 29 engages thethreaded end so as to clamp between itself and the tubular section 21 a.piston 30 mounted upon the reduced portion 24 of the piston rod [1. Thepiston 30 has a body or central portion 3!, an upper central hubextension 32 engaging the tubular section 26, a lower central hubextension 33 engaging the nut 28, and upper and lower peripheral skirts34 and 35. The piston is, of course, slidably mounted in the tubularsleeve 22. The piston has a circular. ring of passages 36 extendingthrough the central or body portion 8i thereof from an upper face 31 toa lower face 38. Seated upon the piston face 37 in covering relationwith respect to the passages 36 is a valve ring 39 of annular or ringform having circular seating portions 49 projecting from the lower faceso as to close the upper ends of alternate passages 36. The seatingportions 40 maintain the valve ring 39 in spaced relation with respectto the remaining alternate passages 36. A coil spring 4! acting betweenthe flange 21 on the tubular section 26 and the valve ring 39 yieldingholds the valve ring 39 in engagement with the face 31 of the piston 38.The upper central hub portion 32 has three keys 42 placed apart, fittingwithin keyways in the valve ring 39 so as to prevent rotation of thevalve ring and therebyto keep the seating portions 40 in closingposition with respect to the proper alternate passages 36. The valvering 39 may be lifted from engagement with-the piston face 37 againstthe action of the spring ll until it engages the lower end of thetubular section 21. The fit of the valve 39 on the hub portion 32 issufficiently free to permit the required movement of the valve 39 alongthe hub portion .32. An annular or ring valve 44 is positioned at thelower piston face 38 in covering relation with respect to the passages36. The valve 43 has raised circular seating portions 44 similar to theportions 40 of the valve 39 and positioned with respect to one anotherso as to engage the lower ends oi those alternate passages 36 notengaged by the seating portions 40 of the valve 39. The alternatepassages 36 engaged by thesealting portions 43 of the. ring 391211301381! atetheir lower ends because the seating portions 44 of the lowerrings 43 do not engage these passages and space the remainder of thevalve ring 43 from the lower ends 1 of these passages. tween the fiange29 of the nut 28 and the valve A coil spring 45- acting be- 43yieldingly holds the 'valve 43 in-engagement with the lower piston face38'."--The valve 43 is held against rotation by means of keys upon thelower central hub portion 3 3,'w hich are not shown but are similar tothe keys 42 of the u per central hub portion and have the same-purposeas the keys 42. The valve 43 may move down out of engagementawithathepiston face 38..against the action o=the.:spring 45 untilsthei-valye 43engages the-uppenend .of-thev-nut 29. JIhe m of the. valve .43 ontheihubaportion 33 -is;sufi1ciently free to permitthe required movementof the valve 43 along the hubl portion 33; .Theuppenface of the valve 39and the-lower face ofcthe valve 43 are planar or.- continuously. flat:.The valves. may beformed ofsintered metal :or. may be. dieecut.

In operation of-the0shock-absorber Ill-there is fluid in the tube 22both above and below the piston 30; When=-foroe is v -app1iedstending tomove the parts between which the, shocleabsorber I0 is connected toward,one anothei the-piston 33 tends to move downwardlyrin the tube 22-; Suchdownward movement: takes place'when the.pressure of the fiuidbelowthe-piston 30-is suflioient to raise the valve 39 :fromseating-engagement with the-upperp-pistoniace' 31;: Thenfiow of fluidthrough the piston takes} place past the valves 43 and 39 and throughthosealternate passages 36 that were closed by the seating portions 40on the; valve '335bef ore the-valve 39 was lifted. Whenthe partsbetween-which the shock absorber ID is connectedy tend-to move-away fromone another the -piston 30 tends to move upwardly in the tube 22.Suclrupward-movement may take place whenthe-pressure of the fiuidabovethe piston 361s sufficient to disengage the valve 43 from-thelowerpistonsiace 33-againstthe action of the spring 45.f .!I 'l'1enfiowoi fiuidrdownwardly through thepiston-takes place-past-the valves 39and 43 and through-those passages 36 that were closed by the seating-portions 44 ofthevalve 43 before it .was depressed irom engagementwithin the total-volume of fluid within.zthe..tube 22 andthis is made:possible by the compression valve 23 through: which -itheafiuid:escapesfrom the tube 22 to: the reservoir: between the tubes l3 and 22.-Whenthepiston 30-.moves upwardly in the tube 22-the volurne-iorfiluidbelow the-piston increases more rapidly than the volume for fiuid abovethe piston 36 decreases, and so the total volume for fluid in the tube22 increases. To accommodate this, the valve 23 permits flow of fluidfrom the reservoir between the tubes to the space within the tube 22.

The construction of Figs. 4 and 5 difiers from that of Figs- 2 and ,3iin:that there. are provided annular corrugated valves 46 and 41contacting respectively the upper and lower faces 31 and 38 of thepiston 30. The corrugated valve 46 closes alternate passages 36 in thepiston 36 at their upper ends and is spaced from the remainingalternate-passages 36. The valve 41 closes the 15' said remainingalternate passages 36 at their lower ends and is spaced from the firstmentioned alternate passages; As the piston 30 moves downwardly in thetube 22 the valve ring 46 is lifted from the piston face 31 against theaction of the spring 4|. Flow ofsfluid upwardly through the piston 3ltakes place-past-then valves 46. and 41 and through those passages36athatnwereclosed by the-valve iiS before -it was liftedw -When thepiston 3| is moved upwardly imthatube 22 the valve 41 is taken outofengagement'with the. lower piston face 38, and fiow of fluid takes.place'downwardly through the piston 3oipastzthe valves 46 and 41 andthrough-those passages 36 that were 5 closed by the-valve 41 :before it.was depressed 301 from engagement with the piston faceM-against theaction of thespring 45E :Itotativemovement ofthe'valve 46-is-=preventedby-.. .three-keys 41 a formed on the exteriorpf-tha-upperahub. portion 32 and spaced 120 apart and keyways in theinner periphery of-valve 46receiving keys 41.

. The valve 41 is-held against rotatlve' movement by similar means; notshowni e-The :purpose in preventing rotative movement oi -valves 46 and41=is to assure proper-positioning of'the valves for closing the properalternate-passages 36. The fit of the-valves 46 and 41 upomthe hubportions 32 and 33is sufiiciently loose to permit the required movementofthe-valvesalong the hub portions. The-construction nf-Figs, 4 and 5may be employed in -a shock-absorber assembly similar to that 'ofFig. I:The-compression valve 1 23 may be employed for the purpose describedwith reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

The construction of-Figsdandfidiflers from those of the previous figuresimthat valves 48 and 49 positioned in engagement with the piston faces31 and 38 respectively are formed of scalloped rings. The valve 48-h asa generally circular inner periphery in which areiormed keyways spaced120 apart and receiving-keys 5| formed on the upper central hub 32 ofthe 'piston 30. In this way rotational movement ofthe'valve 48 isprevented, The exteriorperiphery-of the valve 48 is scalloped so as tocover-and closethe upper ends of certain alternate passages 36' in thepiston 30. The remaining alternate-passages 36 are not covered by thevalve 48 and are open at their upper ends; The valve 49 has a circularinner periphery inwhich are formedthree =l eyways spaced apart andreceiving-keys 53 formed on the exterior or the lower centralhub portion33 of the piston 36. The'purpose of the-keys 5i and 53 and thekeywaysisftoprevent rotation of valves 48 and 49 and-thereby toassurepositioning of the-valves for closing'the appropriate alternate passages36;--Thevalve 49 has a scal- .loped exterior periphery-and covers andcloses the lower ends' of those-passages 36 that are i not covered attheir upper-endjs bythe valve 48. I Fig. 6 showsthe relativeangularpositions of the two valves 48 and 49. -Whe'nthe piston 30 movesdownwardly in the tube 22 the valve 48 is raised from engagement withthe upper piston face 31. Flow of fluid takes place past the valves 48and 49 and through those passages 36 which were closed by the valve 43before it was raised from engagement with the piston 37. When upwardmovement of the piston 30 takes place the valve 49 is depressed fromengagement with the piston face 38, and flow of fluid through the pistontakes place past the valves 48 and 49 and through those passages 36 thatwere closed by the valve 49 before it was depressed from engagement withthe lower piston face 38. The fit of the valves 48 and 49 upon the hubportions 32 and 33 is suficiently loose to prevent the required movementof the valves along the hub portions. The construction of Figs. 6 and 7may be used in a shock absorber assembly like that of Fig. 1. Also thecompression valve 23 may be in cooperation with the construction ofFigs. 6 and 7 for the purposes described With reference to Figs. 2 and3.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that there have beendescribed three forms of valve constructions suitable for use in shockabsorber pistons. In each form there is provided a single row ofpassages 36 for the flow of fluid through the piston, one group ofpassages being employed for flow of fiuid through the piston in onedirection and the other group being employed for the flow of fluid inthe other direction. This is made possible by the use of three differentforms of valves cooperating with the passages in the piston to open andclose them. It may be stated with respect to each valve that it hasreentrant portions that make possible the closing of one end of certainpassages and the keeping open of one end of other passages. In thespecies of Figs. 2 and 3 the reentrant portions are formed etween theseats 40 and 44 on the valves 39 and t3, respectively, the portionsbeing reentrant with respect to the seats. In the species of Figs. 4 and5 the corrugated shape of the valves 46 and 4? cause certain alternateportions to be reentrant with respect to other alternate portions. Inthe species of Figs. 6 and 7 the scalloped outer peripheries of thevalves 48 and 49 may be considered to be reentrant in form.

I claim:

1. A valve construction comprising'a valve body having a plurality ofpassages extending there through from one face to another face, a firstvalve member having seating portions raised with respect to otherportions and positioned at the said one face of the valve body forcausing the seating portions to close certain passages by coveringengagement therewith and the other portions to leave open the remainingpassages by being spaced therefrom although in covering relation, meansyieldingly maintaining the first valve member in the above describedrelation with respect to the said one face of the valve body, a secondvalve member having seating portions raised with respect to otherportions and positioned at the said other face of the valve body forcausing the seating portions to close the said remaining passages bycovering engagement therewith and the other portions to leave open thesaid certain passages by'being spaced there.- from although in coveringrelation, and means yielciingly maintaining the second valve member inthe above described relation with respect to the said other face ofthevalve body.

2. A valve construction comprising a valve body having a ring ofpassages extending from one face 'and positioned at the said other faceof the valve body for causing the seating portions to close the saidremaining alternate passages by covering engagement therewith and theother portions to leave open the alternate passages by being spacedtherefrom although having covering relation with respect thereto, andmeans yieldingly maintaining the second valve ring in the abovedescribed position.

3. The valve construction specified in claim 2, each valve ring beingthicker at the seating portions than at the other portions so as tocause the opposite side of the valve ring to be smooth.

4. The valve construction specified in claim 2, each valve ring beingcorrugated.

5. A valve construction comprising a valve body having a plurality ofparallel passages arranged in a circle and extending through the bodyfrom one face to another face, a first circular valve ring having seatportions elevated with respect to other portions spacing the seatportions from one another and positioned at the said one face so as tocause the seat portions to close alternate pas sages by engaging thesaid one face at the said alternate passages and to cause the otherportions to leave open the remaining alternate passages by being spacedfrom the said one face at the said remaining alternate passages, meansyieldingly maintaining the above described position of the first valvering, a second circular valve ring having seat portions elevated withrespect to other portions spacing the seat portions from one another andpositioned at the said other face of the valve body so as to cause theseat portions to close the said remaining alternate passages by engagingthe said other face at the said remaining alternate passages and tocause the other portions to leave open the said alternate passages bybeing spaced from the said other face at the said alternate passages,and means resiliently holding the second valve ring in the abovedescribed position.

6, A valve construction comprising a valve body having a plurality ofpassages extending therethrough from one face to another face andarranged in a closed path, a first valve member having a reentrantcontour deviating from the path of the passages and positioned at thesaid one face so as to close certain passages and to leave open theremaining passages, means yieldingiy holding the first valve member inthe above described position, a second valve member having a reentrantcontour deviating from the path of the passages and positioned at thesaid other face so as to close the said remaining passages and to leaveopen the said certain passages, and means yieldingly holding the secondvalve membar in the above described position.

7. A valve construction comprising a valve body having a plurality ofpassages extending therethrough from one face to another face andarranged in a ring, a first valve of annular form i 7 'tiiwithiinner.andzouterrperipheries Jand .beingyposiilmtio'ned a t'the said'one face:and to leave open the saidcertain passages, and n :meansresilientlyholding the second valve in the :isea-bove described position.

.8. A valve: construction comprising a valve or tbody-having a pluralityof parallel passages ex- :r tending therethrough from one face toanother zsr facezand arranged ina circle, a firstvalve ring mxpositionedatthe said one face of the valve body azvsandhaving a scalloped outerperiphery causing :z thafirst valve ring to close certain passages andto leave open the remaining passages, means uesiliently holdingthe firstvalve ring in the :above-described position, a second valve ring:positionedat the saidother face of the valve body and having.-a:scalloped outer periphery causing i w-tlrerrsecond valve ring to closethe said remaining passages and toileave open the said certain pas-":rersages; and=meansresiliently holdingthe second 1 .vvalvc ring *inthe above described position.

9. A :valve construction comprising a valve 1 body "having "a pluralityof passages-extending lierethi'ough from one face to another face, a.first valve member positioned atthe said one ':face of the valve bodyand having reentrant por- ,..andrto.\leave open the remaining passages,means r1 yieldingly: maintaining the first valve member in the:aforesaidposition, a'second valve member "-\positioned at the said other face ofthe valve body amand havingreentrant portions causing position- =1: 'ingof the second valve member at the said other face toclose the saidremaining passages and to "mleaveopen the said certain passages; andmeans we 'zyieldingly maintaining the second valve member if: in --the.aforesaid position.

10. A- piston valve construction for a shock absorber. comprising apiston having a body portion; peripheral skirts extending from oppositeI :faces thereof; central hub extensions at the oppo- 'site-faces,and aring of passages extending from i-.'- one .-.opposite face to the otheropposite face, a

; first valve ring positioned at the said one face of the piston insurrounding relation to one hub .extension and having reentrant portionscaus- 1:3 ingwpositioning of the first valve ring at the said one faceto. close certain alternate passages and to leave'open the remainingalternatepassages, .-r-,. means yieldinglymaintaining the first valvering 1 in the aforesaidposition, means preventing substantial rotativemovement of the first valve ring -with-respect to the piston, a secondvalve ring .-,=positioned at the-said other face of the piston insurrounding relation to the other hub extenr sionand having'reentrantportions causing-positioning of the second valve ring at the said otherm face to :close the said remaining alternate passages and toleaveopenthe said certain alter- 21-. hate-passages, means resilientlymaintaining the second valvering in the aforesaidposition, and a...means preventingsubstantial rotative movement z... of the second. .valve.ring with respect .to. the piston.

or. the valve -.body, L we: one-periphery. being scalloped so as tocause' the ions-causing positioning of the first valve memer :atthe saidone face to close certainpassages .11 11:; Thaipistorr valveconstruction-specified in claim 10;;:the ireentrantlportions ofeachvalve .1 ring involving .a .scalloped periphery.

. 12:1:Th6 :piston valve. construction specified in claim each-valvering having seat-portions -closing.--thosetpassages closed by theparticular :valve ;ring.and being elevated with respect to pori#tions.intermediatethe: seating-portions so as to.-cause:thedntermediateportion to be the reen- 10 trantportionsspecifiedrin claim 10,.these seating portions and .intermediate portionsconstituting .--'one'face of the particularvalve ring, the other face:being continuously .flat.

13-; Theapistomvalve construction specified in claim 10.,-each-. valvering having seating portions .=closing..those passages closed by theparticular valve ringand being-elevated with respect to por- ...-.tionsintermediatectheseating portions so as to ...,.cause the intermediateportion to be the reen- .trantportionssspecified in claim 10,- each ringbeingcorrugated.

14. ;A;piston valve construction for a shock ...iabsorberncomprisingapiston having a..ring of passages extendingfromone opposite face to theother.opposite.face,.-afirst valve ring yieldingly engaging the saidsoneface of the piston and hav- ...ing, reentrant portions closing certainalternate passages .and leavingopen. the remaining alter-.natepassageameans. preventing substantial ro- 'tative .movement ofothejfirst valve .ring. with -,respect to the piston,-. a-second valveringyieldgingly engaging the said other face of the piston and havingreentrant.portionsclosing the said remaining. alternate .passagesandleaving open the said "certain. alternate passages, and meanspreventingsubstantlal rotative. movement of the 1 second-valveringl'jwith respect tothe piston.

. l5..-The piston.valveconstiuction specified in ...claim14,.,the.:reentrant.portions of each'valve ring involvinga scalloped.periphery.

. 16.,Thefpistonvalve. construction specified in claim 14, each valve.ring having seating. portions closingathose passages closed bytheparticular valve .ring .and-..,b eing elevated.. with. respect to 45portions. intermediate. theseating portions so asto..cause.the*intermediate portion to be the reen-.trantportions.specifiedinclaim 14, these seating portions andintermediate.portions constituting one face of the particular valvering, the other facebeingcontinuously fiat.

. 17;.lTheJpistonyalve construction specified in -.claim 14,.each' valvering havingseating. portions .closing those. passages closed byrtheparticular a valve ringand being elevatedwith respect to portionsintermediate theseating portions so as to cause the intermediate portionto be the reen- ..trant. portions specified in claim 14, each ring beingcorrugated.

SIDNEY A. OCHS.

REFERENCES "CITED The rfollo wingrefererrcesare of record in the fileof-this-patent:

'- UNITED STATESPATENTS

